FOOTBALL: NATIONWIDE LEAGUE: Court opponents to meet on pitch

THE HUDDERSFIELD defender, Kevin Gray, could come face-to-face with Gordon Watson, the man he last challenged in the High Court as Bradford City visit the McAlpine Stadium today.

Gray is expected to recover from a thigh injury after missing training all week and if he makes the starting line-up, he could meet face Bradford's Watson for the first time since the striker successfully sued for damages over a broken leg.

Watson is expected to be a substitute but will feature for some part of the game.

Huddersfield's manager, Peter Jackson, eager to diffuse the situation, said: "I have told Kevin Gray to forget about the court case and treat it as just another game and that goes for the rest of my players as well."

Lee Hughes and John Aloisi go head-to-head in a battle of the First Division hot-shots at Fratton Park. Hughes has plundered 21 goals for West Brom while Aloisi has 17 goals for Portsmouth.

"Every time I go out I feel confident I can find the net," said Hughes who scored his third hat-trick of the campaign against Huddersfield last week.

Sunderland, the First Division leaders, will be without their central defender Paul Butler for the visit of Barnsley to the Stadium of Light. Jody Craddock is expected to be given a rare first team outing, while Kevin Ball has recovered from a kidney injury and returns to central midfield to link up again with Lee Clark.

Goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko is the biggest doubt for rejuvenated QPR as they look to make it four wins on the trot against Sheffield United at Loftus Road. Lee Harper stands by to replace him, while Karl Ready returns after a one-match ban.

Bolton's Andy Todd will miss the game at Ipswich. The defender undergoes a double hernia operation on Tuesday, and will be out of action until the New Year. Bolton are also without their captain, Gudni Bergsson, who had a groin operation on Tuesday.

Crystal Palace are forced to make changes for trip to Swindon following Matt Jansen's knee operation. Clinton Morrison is likely to step in.